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The bottom half of the women's draw took shape at the US Open on Friday as a day of no upsets witnessed the higher ranked seeds make short work of their not quite as illustrious opponents. It was a tad disappointing from a fans perspective as none of the matches required three sets with all the big name players managing to wrap up business in rather emphatic fashion. Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams led the way as the past champions dropped just 3 games each in their third round encounters. Just as impressive was Russian teen sensation Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who made surprisingly quick work of fiesty Argentine Gisela Dulko. French Open finalists Francesca Schiavone and Samantha Stosur played well to edge closer to an unlikely rematch, while Elena Dementieva and Ana Ivanovic added a touch of glamour to the last 16.

Defending champion Kim Clijsters overcame a poor start to thump Wimbledon semi-finalist Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-0. The left handed Kvitova came out swinging and was ably assisted by some terrible serving from Clijsters as the 2nd seeded Belgian threw in three double faults in the third game to fall behind 3-0 including a double break. However, the windy conditions soon blew over Arthur Ashe stadium, and Clijsters started finding top form. She rattled off the next 12 games in a row to complete the rout in a few minutes over the hour mark. Clijsters extends her winning run at New York to 17 matches, which stretches back to 2005 when she won the US Open title for the first time.

Up next for 'Mommy' Kim is another former world no.1 Ana Ivanovic. The Serbian princess is on the comeback trail and was impressive in her 7-5, 6-0 elimination of wild card recipient Virginie Razzano. Ivanovic powered down 22 winners in the 66 minute encounter, but perhaps her most impressive statistic was the fact that she landed 71% of her first serves and as a result won plenty of free points. The fans in Cincinnati were denied a Clijsters - Ivanovic classic earlier this summer when the Serb was forced to withdraw from their semi-final match after just a couple of games with a foot injury, and the good friends are relishing a rematch.

2000 & 2001 champion Venus Williams had a familiar face cheering her on from the sidelines as younger sister Serena made an appearance court side. Venus did not really need the extra encouragement tonight as she hammered 29 winners past Grand Slam debutant Mandy Minella in a 6-2, 6-1 demolition. Williams did not really play to her potential, serving at below 50% and throwing in a massive 30 unforced errors, yet was barely tested in this match. She next meets the no.16 seed Shahar Peer, who produced a 6-4, 6-4 win against Italian Flavia Pennetta. Peer has never won a set off Venus in their five previous encounters.

The opening match of the day was the one which carried the maximum promise as the 12th seed Elena Dementieva took on Daniela Hantuchova in the 16th meeting between the ladies. Dementieva raced to a 2-0 lead before dropping the next five games in a row as the leggy Slovakian stretched ahead 5-2. The topsy-turvy nature of the match continued as it was now the Russians turn to win five in a row as she mounted an impressive comeback to take the first set 7-5. With the set went Hantuchova's challenge as she lost five of the next 6 games as well to fall behind 5-1. Dementieva finally wrapped up the match in 91 minutes 7-5, 6-2.

The road to glory does not get any easier for the Russian as she comes up against the no.5 seed Samantha Stosur in the pre-quarterfinals. Stosur, who came back from match point down to beat Sara Errani last week at the Pilot Pen Open, had a much easier outing on Friday, posting a 6-2, 6-3 win. Dementieva will carry a 4-1 edge over the Aussie into that match, though Stosur is a much improved player over the last year and a half.

The last of the four brackets in the bottom half of the draw will be occupied by the exceptionally talented Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and the reigning French Open champion Francesca Schiavone. The Italian seems to have got over her maiden Grand Slam title winning celebratory slump and is playing some more than decent tennis. She beat the no.29 seed Alona Bondarenko 6-1, 7-5. Her opponent in the last 16, 19-year old Pavlyuchenkova destroyed Argentine battler Gisela Dulko 6-1, 6-2 to make the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the very first time in her career.

Saturday will see the rest of the women's draw complete their third round encounters. Top seed Caroline Wozniacki, 4th seed Jelena Jankovic and former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova lead the card, while the match that everyone is waiting to see is 18-year old American sensation Beatrice Capra take on 3-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova.

Friday Scores:

Singles - Third Round
(2) Kim Clijsters (BEL) d. (27) Petra Kvitova (CZE) 63 60
(3) Venus Williams (USA) d. (Q) Mandy Minella (LUX) 62 61
(5) Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. Sara Errani (ITA) 62 63
(6) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) d. (29) Alona Bondarenko (UKR) 61 75
(12) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. (24) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 75 62
(16) Shahar Peer (ISR) d. (19) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 64 64
(20) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. Gisela Dulko (ARG) 61 62
Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. (WC) Virginie Razzano (FRA) 75 60

Pre-Quarterfinal Line-up
(2) Kim Clijsters (BEL) vs. Ana Ivanovic (SRB)
(3) Venus Williams (USA) vs. (16) Shahar Peer (ISR)
(5) Samantha Stosur (AUS) vs. (12) Elena Dementieva (RUS)
(6) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) vs. (20) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)

File Photograph Copyright: Jan Dembowski

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